Germany's World Cup nightmare has claimed its biggest casualty after Julian Nagelsmann quit as national team manager following their shock elimination to Paraguay, with Jurgen Klopp already emerging as the leading contender to replace him.
The 38-year-old has walked away from the role after coming under intense scrutiny in the wake of Germany's dramatic round-of-32 exit, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat and sparked widespread criticism both on and off the pitch.
Nagelsmann is expected to receive a £6million pay-off after agreeing to leave his position, despite originally being scheduled to remain in charge through to the European Championship in two years' time.
The decision follows crisis talks with senior figures from the German Football Association at its headquarters in Frankfurt.
Nagelsmann reportedly spent around three hours discussing the team's disappointing campaign, with his tactical approach and the atmosphere within the squad both coming under the spotlight.
German football chiefs encouraged the former Bayern Munich boss to resign voluntarily rather than face dismissal, allowing him to leave with his reputation largely intact.
Only days earlier, Nagelsmann had insisted he had no intention of abandoning the role.
"I'm definitely not one to run away," he said after Germany's painful defeat to Paraguay.
However, the pressure surrounding his position intensified amid claims that off-field distractions had become a significant issue throughout the tournament.
Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus alleged there had been unrest within the camp over the involvement of players' families and partners, with disagreements reportedly arising over travel arrangements and access.
Nagelsmann himself also found his private life becoming a talking point after his wife, Lena Wurzenberger, was frequently seen around the Germany camp.
The former sports journalist was photographed watching training sessions before the tournament, attended matches throughout the competition and was also seen accompanying Nagelsmann back to the team hotel before cycling with him to training the following morning.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Thomas Tuchel tells English parents to let their kids 'skip school' to watch Mexico clash
- School pupils allowed to arrive couple of hours late for school after England vs Mexico game
- Roy Keane shares who he thinks England will be knocked out by at World Cup
Her visible presence prompted speculation in Germany that players may have felt less comfortable speaking openly around the coaching staff.
"There is naturally always that feeling that when the boss's wife is in the room, you might not always be completely honest at the table when talking about the national coach," reporters suggested during the tournament.
Matthaus later claimed tensions extended beyond Nagelsmann's own circumstances.
"There's a lot to process, both on and off the pitch. Wives, families, everyone was involved. Lots of headlines," he said.
"I don't know why you have to involve all the families right from the start.
"Then it's about travel options, about hotel bookings. That was all a topic within the team. It never appeared in the media, but I know it was a topic of discussion.
"One player was angry with another because one player's mother was allowed to fly along, while another's wife and children were allowed to fly. The others had to take a commercial flight."
Partners of several Germany stars, including Kai Havertz, Manuel Neuer, Alexander Nubel, Nadiem Amiri and Leon Goretzka, were prominent figures in the stands throughout the World Cup.
Attention is now turning towards who will rebuild one of international football's most successful nations, with former Liverpool manager Klopp among the names under consideration.
Klopp worked as a television pundit during Germany's troubled campaign and has inevitably been linked with the vacancy.
Asked about the speculation, he replied: "I haven't thought about that yet.
"I understand that my name is being mentioned now.
"But it's not the time to talk about that."
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
from GB News https://ift.tt/1M3X8CH
via IFTTT
Thank you for your message!